Image processing apparatus and image processing method

Abstract

In a pipeline process structure having a plurality of processing functions 131 - 1 to 131 -N which are connected to each other in a pipeline mode so as to execute predetermined process operations, while an image information read-skipping unit 132 for skipping a reading operation of a portion of image information to be processed is provided with at least one of these plural processing functions 131 - 1 to 131 -N, when the image information is processed on such a system for requiring/releasing a memory, the image information can be effectively processed and acquired.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of processing unit which are connected to each other in a pipeline mode so as to execute predetermined process operations respectively, wherein 
 at least one of said plural processing unit includes image information read-skipping unit for skipping a reading operation of a portion of image information to be processed, while said processing unit executes a predetermined process operations.  
   
     
     
         2 . The image processing apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said image information read-skipping unit includes: at least one of 
 a read-skipping function executed along a forward direction with respect to a sub-scanning direction;  
 a read-skipping function executed along a backward direction with respect to the sub-scanning direction;  
 a read-skipping function executed along the forward direction with respect to a main scanning direction; and  
 a read-skipping function executed along the backward direction with respect to the main scanning direction.  
   
     
     
         3 . The image processing apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said image information read-skipping unit includes: at least two of 
 a read-skipping function executed along a forward direction with respect to a sub-scanning direction;  
 a read-skipping function executed along a backward direction with respect to the sub-scanning direction;  
 a read-skipping function executed along the forward direction with respect to a main scanning direction; and  
 a read-skipping function executed along the backward direction with respect to the main scanning direction, and selects any one of the plural functions to execute the selected function.  
   
     
     
         4 . The image processing apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein 
 at least one of said plural processing unit further comprises: 
 image information read-skipping control unit for controlling said image information read-skipping unit based upon a sort of an image processing instruction.  
   
     
     
         5 . An image processing method wherein: 
 in a pipeline process structure constituted by connecting a plurality of processing modules for executing predetermined process operations in a pipeline mode, at least one of said plural processing modules includes: 
 an image information read-skipping function for skipping a reading operation of a portion of image information to be processed, while said processing module executes a predetermined process operation.  
   
     
     
         6 . The image processing method as in  claim 5 , wherein 
 at least one of said plural processing modules includes: 
 an image information read-skipping control function capable of controlling the image information read-skipping function based upon a sort of an image processing instruction in addition to the image information read-skipping function.